Pomfret Center, CT, July 17, 2014–With large numbers of the current U.S. construction workforce facing retirement within the next five to ten years, many companies, even entire industries, are concerned
about how to recruit and train the next generation of craft workers.

One answer may lie in the forging of a new and unique relationship between The LIUNA Training and Education Fund and YouthBuild USA. The two organizations have recently signed a
memorandum of agreement to develop direct entry criteria for YouthBuild graduates interested in
joining the construction industry and to promote local partnerships between LIUNA Training affiliates
and YouthBuild USA affiliates. In addition to helping repopulate the craft workforce, this relationship
will provide a clear pathway to employment for low-income young people who are looking for careers
in the construction industry with wages that will put them into the economic mainstream.
YouthBuild USA is a national support center for 264 YouthBuild programs across the country that engage nearly 10,000 low-income young adults each year where they work toward a GED or high school diploma while learning job skills and earning an allowance by building affordable housing in their communities. About one-third of them are female; 97% are young people of color, many of whom have also been court involved. Thirty percent of YouthBuild graduates end up going into the construction industry.

“We are excited to be working with the LIUNA Training and Education Fund to provide opportunities for YouthBuild graduates. These young people are mature, motivated and want to work,” commented Daryl Wright, Vice President for Career Development at YouthBuild USA. ”This partnership, which would give YouthBuild graduates direct entry into registered apprenticeship training, represents a huge opportunity–both for these young adults and for the industry “
LIUNA Training is the training arm of the Laborers’ International Union of North America, offering the
best adult education for the construction workforce. LIUNA Training develops curriculum, trains and
certifies instructors, and offers support for 70 affiliated training centers located throughout the United States and Canada. By opening the door to opportunity, LIUNA Training helps apprentices and journey workers improve and add to their skills, advance their careers and gain a competitive advantage in a tough marketplace.

“This innovative partnership represents our commitment to the industry and to workforce development,” said John LeConche, Executive Director of the LIUNA Training and Education Fund. “We look forward to working with YouthBuild USA to help us prepare the workforce of tomorrow for rewarding careers
in construction.”

According to the American Job Training Investments letter from the United States Department of Labor, “ Hands-on apprenticeships are one of the clearest paths to a good, secure middle-class job. In fact,
87 % of apprentices are employed after completing their programs and the average starting wage for
apprenticeship graduates is over $50,000.”

9 January 2014:

LIUNA Training is developing a new skills standard for Reducing Silica Exposures and Silica Competent Person and we need your help. Below is a link to an online survey that we are asking anyone who has worked with or around silica containing materials to take. This means any Laborer who has worked cutting concrete, doing demolition, drilling or in a tunnel is an ideal candidate to take the survey. We are also looking for any Laborer who has been a competent person for silica or has worked on a job where they was a competent person for silica.

Please feel free to share this email with anyone you feel would be willing to participate, this includes trainees, instructors and any other person willing to support this project. We would like to have all survey responses completed by January 27, 2014. The link to the survey is below:

In 2008 the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) gave the NW Laborers-Employers Training Trust the green light to train and certify our Utah members in flagging, as well as in Traffic Control Maintainer (similar to Washington’s Traffic Control Supervisor). The 8 hour flagging class exceeds UDOT’s 4 hour class, and the TCM, now a 24 hour class (with the same prerequisites as the WA TCS) exceeds UDOT’s 8 hour TCM (which has no prerequisites). Both of these classes, as well as the certified members they have produced, have been extremely successful in providing work zone safety.

In 2010 Robin Smith, Kingston site instructor, implemented another safety class in Utah. With the approval of Mike Warren, NWLETT Training Director, and the help of Jesse Loose, Utah training site apprenticeship coordinator, and Diane Lewis, Local 295 Business Manager, the Highway Work Zone Specialist class was created. This 8 hour, “hands-on” class is given to those members who have a current flagging card from NWLETT.

The class’ sole focus is on safety. Most of the day is spent outside setting up traffic control devices - members set up everything from signs, stands, barrels, arrow panels, and other devices in a safe environment, and learn how to identify non-compliant devices, as well as how to develop an Internal Traffic Control Plan, or ICTP.

On June 28th, 2013, Robin was asked to speak at at the annual AFL/CIO Conference in Salt Lake City, where she gave a short PowerPoint presentation on these programs, as well as a short history of NWLETT.

Afterwards, Robin, Jesse, and Diane were presented with Work Place Safety awards given by the Utah State Labor Commission. This is a tremendous honor for Utah as well as for NWLETT, and we are extremely proud of their continuous efforts to making work zones safe places for all.

22 January 2013:

Thanks to KCTS 9 for letting us link to their "Women and Girls Lead - ANEW" video featuring Laborer Angelica Watson:

15 August 2012: Union Ride & Charity Rally - September 9, 2012 -
Hosted at the Clearwater Casino in Suquamish, this event invites you to ride proud while supporting important charities and Celebrate Working for Washington! Download the event flyer here.

13 August 2012: Q&A on the Cranes, Rigging, and Personnel Lifting rule (Chapter 296-155 Part L) can be found here.

9 April 2012: An important announcement for Apprentices regarding the 6,000 hour apprenticeship program can be found here.

3 April 2012: We are actively searching for an instructor to head our tunneling program. Requirements and other information can be found here.

3 January 2012: NWLETT has scheduled 3 additional tunnel-related classes for this Winter Quarter. The Tunnel Rail & Utility Installation and Maintenance class is 1 week (40 hours) in length and will be held at our Satsop training facility in Elma, WA. Class dates can be found here. Class size is 12-15 people and is very hands-on oriented, so please dress appropriately.